Giving Should Be Voluntary, Generous (Even Sacrificial), Cheerful, and Needs-Based

Introduction

1 Chronicles 29:9–14 ESV

Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly. Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.

We have looked at some characteristics of giving taught in the NT:

Giving should be of free volition—we should not be coerced to give by authorities at our local church.

Giving should be done cheerfully as we recognize the spiritual blessings God pours out on those who give, since “God loves a cheerful giver.”

Giving should be applied toward genuine community needs, specifically in support of local ministers and the poor.

Finally, giving should be generous, even sacrificial.

The beauty of this mode of giving is that it frees Christians to generously serve others out of thankfulness to God for His provision. The challenge, however, is how exactly to define “generous.”

Giving generously is to give in such a way that God is glorified

God is glorified when we recognize His soverignty

God is glorified when are grateful for His provision

God is glorified when we are joyful in our opportunity to serve Him

Our giving must be commensurate with our means

Mark 12:41–44 ESV

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Conclusion